Business

Washington County, Va, means business. With prime industrial locations, an educated workforce and a high standard of living, the county presents an attractive package to industries seeking expansion or new locations. Higher education institutions and local government provide training and support for Washington County’s corporate citizens. Two new industrial parks are open: Oak Park Center for Business and Industry(formally known as Westinghouse Industrial Park), between Abingdon and Bristol, Va., and Glade-Highlands Regional Industrial Park near Glade Spring. Both parks offer a full complement of services. They have easy access to Interstate 81, electricity, gas, sewer and water services. Both parks feature redundant fiber optic service from Century-Link and/or Bristol Virginia Utilities for high-speed data connectivity. Glade-Highlands Regional Industrial Park, an innovative joint venture with Smyth County, Va., consists of 302 acres. Once completed, 13 industries will be located in Glade-Highlands. As a reward for the joint effort, these two industrial parks now have a Virginia Enterprise Zone designation. That means businesses locating in the county are eligible for state tax credits and grants.

The county’s Industrial Development Authority works with both new and existing industry to create an atmosphere for growth and expansion.

Washington County also offers a high quality of life. Cultural venues such as Barter Theatre and the William King Arts Center serve as attractions to businesses looking for new locations as do the many recreational resources available in the region — just a few of the assets Washington County leverages to attract new business.

Business Resources

There are several resources available to help businesses in the Washington County area.

Small Business Development Center

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides one-on-one counseling, business education opportunities and resources to help small business owners or managers improve their business. The sole objective is to help Southwest Virginia's businesses prosper and increase job opportunities.

Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator

The Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator was established to help startups grow in Southwest Virginia. We provide support, guidance, reasonable rent, and necessary services to foster the growth of a successful business. We are a non-profit created by both the Town of Abingdon, VA and Washington County, VA.

VirginiaDBA

VirginiaDBA, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1996, provides a one-stop-service for technical assistance related to business formation, access to capital, and workforce development. VDBA works with existing businesses as they grow their workforce and mentors entrepreneurs from ideas to launching their first business venture. To accomplish the objectives set forth in Governor McDonnell's Economic Development and Jobs Creation agenda, VDBA has facilitated $1.3 billion in financing for Virginia businesses, provided technical assistance to over 36,000 businesses and will host over 80 Entrepreneurial Workshops statewide this year.

Economic Development

Washington County, Va, means business. With prime industrial locations, an educated workforce and a high standard of living, the county presents an attractive package to industries seeking expansion or new locations. Higher education institutions and local government provide training and support for Washington County’s corporate citizens. Two new industrial parks are open: Oak Park Center for Business and Industry(formally known as Westinghouse Industrial Park), between Abingdon and Bristol, Va., and Glade-Highlands Regional Industrial Park near Glade Spring. Both parks offer a full complement of services. They have easy access to Interstate 81, electricity, gas, sewer and water services. Both parks feature redundant fiber optic service from Century-Link and/or Bristol Virginia Utilities for high-speed data connectivity. Glade-Highlands Regional Industrial Park, an innovative joint venture with Smyth County, Va., consists of 302 acres. Once completed, 13 industries will be located in Glade-Highlands. As a reward for the joint effort, these two industrial parks now have a Virginia Enterprise Zone designation. That means businesses locating in the county are eligible for state tax credits and grants.

The Washington County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) is the primary organization responsible for industrial development within Washington County, including the development of publicly owned industrial parks and a variety of financing mechanisms to assist in the location or expansion of industry within the County. The IDA is composed of a seven member Board of Directors appointed at-large by the Washington County Board of Supervisors for four year terms. The IDA is supported by the Washington County Department of Community & Economic Development.